The announcement comes on the heels of the organization’s most recent five-year plan that exceeded expectations by generating 11,000 new jobs and $749 million in capital investment during the past five years in West Michigan.

Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place, Inc., and Christopher O’Brien, principal of PwC Diamond Advisory Services, made the announcement to investors and board members at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids.

Klohs and O’Brien facilitated the development of the new strategic planning process along with the Right Place board of directors and strategic planning committee.

The Right Place 2014-2016 strategic plan is based on global market research and extensive interviews with business and community leaders in West Michigan.

“The resulting plan identifies a system of economic progress and focuses The Right Place’s efforts on both improving the region’s economic underpinnings and spurring growth in several strategic areas,” Klohs said in a news release. “This next strategic plan intends to build on that legacy of success.”

Although the plan covers three years, the initiatives and focus areas concentrate on long-term economic impact, not short-term tactics.

The five primary “strategic growth areas” that The Right Place will focus on during the next three years:

Smart manufacturing

Agribusiness and food processing

Life sciences and biotech

Technology and communications

Commercial design

The Right Place will focus on four foundational areas during the next three years:

Business support systems

Infrastructure

Work-ready talent

Quality of life

During the next three years, The Right Place will continue to advance the West Michigan economy by retaining and attracting premier companies, jobs and investment to the region.

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